James Hetfield “absolutely nailed” his role in Ted Bundy film

James Hetfield and Zac Efron at the premiere of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile (Image credit: George Pimentel - Getty)

Zac Efron has praised James Hetfield for his role in the upcoming Ted Bundy thriller Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile.

The film will hit Netflix tomorrow (May 3) and stars the Metallica vocalist and guitarist in his first film appearance as Officer Bob Hayward.

Efron, who plays the American serial killer, was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, when the host asked him about Hetfield.

Efron replied: “He comes on the set – and it's one of the more pivotal moments. It's the moment that Ted actually got caught for the first time. He ran a stop sign and James Hetfield plays the policeman that picks him up.

“James Hetfield, to his credit, he came and absolutely nailed the part – he just crushed it. It's like he’s been acting his own life. He had no fear. He did a great job. 

“I was ready to maybe give James Hetfield a tip, but he didn't ask for a single one. James Hetfield is the shit!”

Efron added: “When I got pulled over by James Hetfield, it was like a dream come true!”

The Joe Berlinger-directed movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah earlier this year, with Hetfield and Efron joined in the cast by Lily Collins.

Metallica are currently on tour across Europe, with their next show taking place on Friday evening in Madrid.

Metallica WorldWired UK and European stadium tour
May 03: Madrid Valdebebas, Spain
May 05: Barcelona Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Spain
May 08: Milan San Siro Hippodrome, Italy
May 10: Zürich Letzigrund, Switzerland
May 12: Paris Stade De France, France
Jun 08: Dublin Slane Castle, Ireland
Jun 11: Amsterdam Johan Cruijff Arena, Netherlands
Jun 13: Cologne RheinEnergieStadion, Germany
Jun 16: Brussels Koning Boudewijnstadion, Belgium
Jun 18: Manchester Etihad Stadium, UK
Jun 20: London Twickenham Stadium, UK
Jul 06: Berlin Olympiastadion, Germany
Jul 09: Gothenburg Ullevi, Sweden
Jul 11: Copenhagen Telia Parken, Denmark
Jul 13: Trondheim Granåsen, Norway
Jul 16: Hameenlinna Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto, Finland
Jul 18: Tartu, Raadi Airport, Estonia
Jul 21: Moscow Luzhniki Stadium, Russia
Aug 14: Bucharestv Arena Națională, Romania
Aug 16: Vienna Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austria
Aug 18: Prague Airport Letnany, Czech Republic
Aug 21: Warsaw PGE Narodowy, Poland
Aug 23: Munich Olympiastadion, Germany
Aug 25: Mannheim Maimarktgelande, Germany

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.